Manji makes quarter finals at Junior Nationals

Northamptonshire's Shakeel Manji reached the quarter finals of the 14 & under AEGON British Junior National Championships on Wednesday 12 August 2009.

Manji, 13,  the number four seed was beaten by Jonathan O’Mara 6-4, 6-3 having disposed of Callum Poland-Smith 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 and Ryan Peniston 6-2 6-1 in the previous rounds.

“It was a good match. I played rather well but it wasn’t enough to beat him,” said Manji, an AEGON FutureStar. “I gave the first set away and then he got into a rhythm. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from competing at the Nationals this week it’s that I have to be more competitive on the big points."

“In round two I showed that I have the belief to come back from one set down, but now I need to make more of the points that count. I love playing on clay as I think it suits my game and I enjoy the feeling of playing on the surface.”

Manji made the quarter finals of the 12 & under age category last year.

The AEGON British Junior National Championships is the highest domestic accolade available to Britain’s most promising young players and past champions included the current men’s and women’s British number ones, Andy Murray and Anne Keothavong as well as former British Number One Tim Henman.  

"The AEGON Junior Nationals are a great way to pit yourself against your peers and battle it out for the title of the best in Britain,” said Keothavong. “It's also a chance to see some of the most talented young players in the country compete against each other - hopefully we'll see some of them stepping up to the pro game in the future.”

More than 400 of the best boys and girls in the country compete across qualifying and main draws for the National Championships, which has been running for 101 years, at both the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton and West Hants Tennis Club.

The aim is that the AEGON British Junior National Championships will produce more British winners.